It's a reunion for the Mario Boys!
Once I had the chance to play Super Mario All-Stars, I was awakened to the world in a big way, and while I still prefer the early Sonic games (Sega roots are buried deep) it is understandable to see why many Mario fans were dissappointed with the recent slew of 'spin-off' games and Sunshine. Why, even Mario Galaxy looks too pretty.
With New Super Mario Brothers we are treated to a family reunion. Everyone from back in the day is pretty much accounted for, and while acknowledging the storylines of the more recent games, and adding Mario 64 era moves to the side-scrolling format, this never feels like a huge jump from the classic days of old.
Now of course the visuals are superb, but 'realism' seems to have been rightly surpressed in favour of a suitably fantastic Mushroom Kingdom. The step down from 3D to 2.5D workds VERY well, with more definition of where the goal lies in a level more time can be spent enjoying the skillful gaming. Improving times, finding hidden warps and trying to a series of cameo boss battles.
Sure, the addition of a 'Super' Mushroom may seem to make the game too easy, but look closer and realise that the large Mario can easily destroy a bonus warp pipe while stomping his way through the level like King Kong on a banana bender. Whereas the 'mini' Mario is suitably vulnerable, but also given super jumping abilities that make som leels more trecherous.
Nintendo took a bold move with this 'step back' but it is a step back that needed to be made. Old school gamers will recognise aspects of levels, and get all warm and fuzzy while remembering what good old gaming was all about, and new gamers are being treated to a tantalising glimpse into the world of retro gaming, without having to commit to buying a clunky old machine.
Highly recommended, unless you are the sort of person who has no thumbs. If you have no thumbs, may I recommend boxing?